She Was About To Be Married At The Age Of 15, But She Fought Back And Won

Yes, you read that right. This is the story of a daughter inspiring her mother to take a step in the right direction. This is Sarika’s story. A fifteen-year-old student of the ninth standard, Sarika was studying in the Sitalpur High School, in Munger, Bihar. One of the bright students in her class, Sarika was extremely interested in continuing her education. Her parents, though, thought otherwise. They were already on the lookout for a groom for this child and the first step they took was to stop her from going to school.

What they knew was that it was the norm to marry off their girl as soon as possible. This ensured her ‘security’ in her adolescence. What they didn’t know was that they had tremendously underestimated their own daughter. As soon as she came to know of her wedding, Sarika alerted her friends in the “Munna-Munni Manch” (Children’s Group in her village, Mai, an intervention by CRY-supported project Disha Vihar) and the Women’s Group. The parents, resorting to desperate measures, stopped her from leaving the house. She was trapped in her own home, and could not even meet her friends.

In the meanwhile, the family of the groom met Sarika’s parents, and her mother finalised her marriage. To make sure that there would be no obstacles in the way, the groom agreed not to take any dowry.

Sarika was not to be convinced. She held her ground. This enabled the staff of Disha Vihar, the community, the children’s group and the women’s group to sensitise Sarika’s parents against child marriage. While they spoke to the girl’s family about the ill effects of child marriage on the child’s life, they also explained the vulnerabilities that it would expose Sarika to; they informed the groom’s family that what they were doing is illegal.

Finally, the job was done. The groom’s family called off the marriage. Today, Sarika is back to doing what she does best – studying. She completed her Secondary Examinations in the year 2013 and Higher Secondary (Humanities) in the year 2015. She has applied for Bachelor of Arts in the colleges of Munger apart from pursuing a basic computer course.

This, however, is not the end of the story. What Sarika has been able to do, is sensitise an entire village against the process of child marriage. More so, today this girl is accompanied by her mother in stopping child marriages in not only her own village but also in the neighbouring ones.

My Story: “Six Years Ago My Daughter Ran Away With A Boy. After One Month The Boy Disappeared”

Partner Story

This Mother’s Day, Let Us Make A Real Difference In Our Mother’s Life

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln

Mothers play a crucial role in our lives. Since we were little, they held our hands, acting as our guide into the world. They took care of all our needs – from teaching us how to hold a spoon, cooking delicious meals for us, dropping us to school and sitting with us while we struggled with our math homework – mothers have been there through thick and thin.

On the special occasion of Mother’s Day, Friends Adult Diapers has a beautiful message for each of us – treat your mother the way she has treated you all her life.

It was our mothers who stayed up all night taking care of us when we fell sick; it was her who help us with our homework. This Mother’s Day, remember to take care and support your mother the way she took care of you all these years.

The minds and bodies of our ageing parents dwindle as they grow even older, and somewhere in the incoherence of understanding their thoughts, children lose patience. They spend less and less time with their parents and hire others to look after them. A study by HelpAge India gives accounts of the elderly, most of whom testify to verbal abuse, neglect and disrespect by their children. Old people rely on their children for both emotional and financial support but, often times are not given the needed care.

There is little difference in how we were as toddlers and how parents are as senior citizens. They couldn’t understand the gibber we uttered then, yet taught us different languages. We were financially dependent on them till at least 18 years of age yet, they never said no to giving us pocket money. Why cannot we echo the same patience our parents showed for so many years?

Our parents have an unconditional love for us. They made sure all our needs are cared for and we never feel alone. When we grow up and our parents enter old age, they require the same care and affection. They would be delighted if we spent time with them after classes or work, make tea or cook for them and also help them with household chores when they have too many things at hand.

It is our responsibility to stand with our parents when they are weak; it is our responsibility to cook for them when they are too tired, and it is our responsibility to take care of them when they fall sick.

Mother’s Day is a celebration in honour of motherhood, a tribute to maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. Let us make a real difference by showing how much we truly care for our mothers.

Friends Adult Diapers has taken a wonderful initiative in this regard. The most precious gift for a mother is her child. So why not take this as an opportunity to shower her with the same love? After all, she deserves it for being with you through every obstacle and every hardship that you faced.